Reply by Tootles

ChrisF, I smiled ruefully at you comment about the pieces being a bit big vs the square – been there, done that. What I learnt was to obtain the pieces before you make the backgammon board. In fact, the designs that I have done for a board are dimensioned in multiples of the piece diameter and the wood thickness.

Dowel is a good short cut, but then you have end-grain pieces.

-- I may have lost my marbles, but I still have my love of woodworking